Chapter 394 – Never Trust A Cultist.

“Shit, why is it those cultists again? Are we cursed or something?”

“Stop yapping and move those legs of yours if you want to live!”

“Shit… fine…”

Amid the tumultuous chaos of the ongoing clashes between high-level individuals, a group of people shuffled about, trying to maintain order amidst the commotion. The center of their attention was a quartet of adventurers who, along with Bernir, Arthur, and Mary, were working tirelessly to assist the guests who had succumbed to the abyssal relic.

Together, they carried the unconscious guests toward a hidden tunnel, concealed behind one of the towering windmills on the compound. This secret passage could only be accessed by performing a peculiar sequence of actions, and the blacksmith in the group was quickly performing this task that the other adventures were unfamiliar with.

Within a few moments, a rectangular block of earth slid to the side, revealing a set of steps leading downward. The tunnel wasn’t very spacious and would likely necessitate carrying the unconscious guests in a single file. This was quite challenging for the terrified individuals. Not far from them, a battle between a bizarre monstrosity and the Guild Master was unfolding, and it was a confrontation they wanted to avoid at all costs. Everyone here realized that it was a realm that they had not stepped into and would just become collateral if they ever dared to step too close.

“Quickly, we must gather everyone here and carry them down, one by one!”

The only person managing to stay calm, despite being just a Tier 2 class holder, was Lord Arthur. The four adventurers snapped out of their initial shock upon hearing his voice and nodded in response. They had already transported several people to this location, but there were still a few unconscious individuals scattered around. While two of them could start carrying some of the remaining guests down into the tunnel, the other two could go after the remaining ones.

“Aye, let us hurry and leave it up to the Boss, he will take care of those cultist bastards for us! The best thing we can do is stay out of his way so he can fight freely.”

Bernir faced the group and was the first to step down into the tunnel. He understood that as long as there were non-combatants in the area, Roland couldn’t unleash his full power. The entire compound could potentially become a massive bomb, but it wasn’t something he could risk when so many innocent lives were at stake. Their best course of action was to step aside and let the Tier 3 class holders handle the situation. Escaping was their top priority.

As Bernir descended into the tunnel, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more he could contribute. Doubts began to cloud his mind. While Roland was undeniably strong, he was not invulnerable, and he had narrowly escaped death on numerous occasions. The cultists were a formidable and fanatical group, willing to sacrifice their lives for their cause. Thankfully, his wife and child were not present in this perilous situation. Their absence allowed him to contemplate the possibility that he could do more than merely guiding people to safety. While ensuring their well-being remained his top priority, it didn’t mean he couldn’t consider further actions after their safe escape.

Without being able to make up his mind, he continued down into the workshop. Inside, his mind raced as he contemplated the best tactic. It would have been straightforward to lead the guests to safety if they were awake, but they were all still under the spell of the strange relic. There was a possibility that they might awaken if they were removed from the item’s range, but he wasn’t sure. Therefore, their only way out was through a recently constructed special tunnel.

“I was wondering why he wanted to make this… now it makes sense…”

Among the various escape tunnels, there were even decoy tunnels designed to confuse potential pursuers and lead them into trapped areas. One particular tunnel was ideal for the current situation, equipped with a small railway. Carts had been placed inside, along with a runic device designed to propel them forward. Initially, Bernir couldn’t fathom the purpose of these carts, as there was nothing to mine in the tunnel. However, in their current predicament, the carts proved to be a perfect fit for the unconscious guests. There was ample space in those carts to accommodate all the guests, and they could ride them to safety. As long as everyone made it there, their escape route would be secure.

Just as he was about to open the escape tunnel to inspect the carts, the entire workshop began to shake. The reinforced ceiling, strengthened with powerful magic and reinforced with steel, trembled, causing small rocks to fall. The deafening explosion resonated through the chamber, indicating a fierce battle was underway. There was a looming risk of the underground workshop being destroyed again, with the ceiling giving way. Time was of the essence, so the dwarven blacksmith sprang into action. He needed to ensure everyone’s safety, a mission he had been entrusted with, and one he was determined to execute without fail.

…

“No more jokes? I guess with that foot, you won’t be going anywhere far…”

Roland surveyed the abyssal assassin woman, trying to push through the splitting headache and pain wracking his body. He had created a massive magical explosion centered around himself, an attack he had barely withstood. His own hit points had fallen by about a quarter, but there was a method for recovery. Even without resorting to potions, his armor radiated a mix of blue and golden light. The emulated divine energy restored his cracked bones and healed potential internal injuries.

This, combined with the Rapid Machine Reassembly skill working on his armor, transformed him into something akin to a zombie. As long as he had mana, his armor could be repeatedly restored. Paired with restoration spells, this allowed him to take some risks. His opponent had clearly not anticipated his self-destructive strategy and had misjudged her attack. Now that her body had been wounded, he wouldn’t let this opportunity go to waste.

With the abyssal assassin woman severely injured and her mobility limited by her mangled foot, Roland saw a chance to finally gain the upper hand in this intense battle. The woman, Jezryna, was no longer as confident and mocking as before. Her characteristic sly smile had faded, replaced by a scowl of pain and frustration.

Still surrounded by his reassembled golems and turrets, Roland didn’t waste any time. He channeled his remaining mana into a powerful spell. The runes on his armor lit up even brighter, and he launched an intricate array of runic projectiles, each guided by a precise trajectory. These projectiles homed in on the assassin, targeting all of her critical areas in a shower of mana.

Jezryna, without speaking a word, desperately attempted to evade the incoming barrage. However, with her mobility hindered, she couldn’t dodge with her usual agility. The magic projectile storm that she had previously danced around was not easily avoided with just one working foot. Even if she could still activate her intangibility skill, it was clearly taking a toll on her stamina. Slowly but surely, more injuries were appearing on her body and so she seeked an escape route.

Her gaze shifted to her allies, who in this situation could potentially act as distractions. The army of undead was being pushed back by a frenzied muscular man and a fiery wolf. Kovak the Necromancer, on the other hand, was struggling to concentrate due to the barrage of projectiles disrupting his incantations. It was a combination of the magical turrets, golems, and the concealed archer who consistently shifted her vantage points.

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The number of lesser cultists had dwindled by half as they were unable to withstand the relentless barrage of magical weaponry. It was becoming evident that they had erred in confronting the runesmith within his own home. Their excessive reliance on the relic and their individual skills had backfired. They faced a choice: flee or regroup their forces for a counterattack before they succumbed to the continuous onslaught of magical attacks and mines.

Her most trusted partner, Ozrelak the Eldritch Warlock, was not faring much better than she was. The bald muscle man wielding an axe had enveloped his body in a peculiar reddish aura and was relentless with his attacks. She was well acquainted with Ozrelak’s regenerative abilities and ferocity, but even his body was struggling to heal itself. Although his opponent had also sustained some damage, it was impossible to predict who would emerge as the victor. They were more or less on equal footing.

Before she could even call out to her allies, Roland launched an attack. This entire place was imbued with runic devices and traps. It was brimming with runic batteries and power generators that he could easily harness. Everything within had been designed by him, and every device could be modified to serve any purpose he desired. Even the mines and cables that crisscrossed the ground could have their runic components altered to produce new effects.